Apparatus for inspecting the interiors of shoes and removing tacks therefrom



AEQFHH 9, 1929. I G MQLYNEUX LWQZQQQ APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING THE INTERIORS OF SHOES AND REMOVING TAGKS THEREFROM Filed Feb. 10, 1925 Patented Apr, 9, 1929.

' entree sitar-s memes Parser castes,

GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX, or BAYONNEI, rmw'annsnv, assrenon TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF P ATERSON annsnr.

NEW JERSEY, CORPORATION OF NEW AND REMOVING TACKS Application filed February 10, 1923. Serial No. 618,367.

This invention relates to apparatus for use 1n inspecting the interiors of shoes to discover tacks therein and for removing .such

p who tries the shoe-on. Sometimes the tacks tacks from the shoes when discovered.

In the manufacture of shoes of substantially all kinds tacks are employed as temporary fastening means for holding the soles or innersoles to the last and for holding the uppers temporarily in lasted position upon the soles or innersolcs. These tacks are driven through the innersole or through the upper and innersole into the wood of the last, the innersole tacks, in the case of a McKay shoe, being driven through openings provided in the iron plate which covers the bottom of the last. The tacks for holding the innersole are usually ,four in number, one being driven through the inner-sole near the toe, one near the ball, onein the shank, and one in the heelseat. The tacksfor holding the lasted upper in place are driven through the bottom portion of the upper and into the margin of the sole except at the toe where the upper is usually held in place byv means of a wire held by anchor tacks driven through the upper and into the sole near the ends of the tip line. After the upper has been permanently secured to the innersole the operation of removing the inner-sole tacks and the lasting tacks is performed. Sometimes, however, the head of an innersolc tack is broken 01f, rendering it impracticable to remove the tack at that time and occasionally a tack is overlooked. With regard to the lasting tacks, these are sometimes broken by the sewing needle or by the upper trimming machine so that the points of them remain in the shoe until the shoe is completed and reaches the packing room.

lVhcn the last is pulled the broken tacks are sometimes drawn through the sole and removed with the last. Frequently, however, they remain in the shoewith their points projecting into the interior thereof. Before being packed the shoes are inspected to ascertain whether there are any such tacks in the shoe and if any are found they are cut off flush with the surface of the innersole. If the tacks are undiscovered in the packingroom and the shoe reaches the retailer, they are likely to cause serious injury to a person are so placed thatwhile a person has no diiiiculty in getting the shoe on, itis found impossible to remove the shoe without tearing the stocking or injuring the foot, and the shoe has to be cutopen and destroyed to remove it. Some of these tacks, particularly broken anchor tacks and the toe tack of the innersole; are located well toward the toe of the shoe and their detection and removal by means located in fixed position at the rear "of the lamp with its reflecting surface next reflecting means have been assembled com, 'pactly and in such a manner thatthe lamp is located in the angle between the visual rays incident to and those reflected from the reflector. It should be noted in thisconnection that this construction affords a maximum of illumination,'the lamp being relatively near the object to be illuminated and also that-the reflecting means may be located in close proximity to any marginal portion of the shoe without there being any intervening obstruction, as would be the case if the lamp were below or at either side of the reflecting means. Conveniently the lamp may be electric and may be provided with a switch which is closed by means arranged in the path of the shoe as it is brought into position over the lamp so that the lamp will be turned on as an incident to presenting the shoe for inspection.

Another feature of the invention consists in taclr removing means mounted in such a fixed position that the shoe may be placed over it and manipulated with respect there to to present a tack to the removing means, means forilluminating the interior of the shoe and the removing means, means for Since, the operators hands are both occupiedinholding and manipulatingthe shoe it is desirable to arrange the nippers for operation by a lower limb of the operator. Accordingly, as shown, the movable handle of the nipper is arranged for operation by means of a foot'lever or treadle to close the jaws. Preferably also a switch for controlling the light is arranged to be operated by movement of the connections between the movable handle and the treadle so that a pre liminar-y movement of the treadle insuflicient' to close the jaws will operate to close the switch and turn on the light, the nipper jaws being operated by further movement of the treadle.

While the toe portion of the shoe is in position over the nippers it is desirable to enable the operator to inspect the rear portion of the interior of the shoe without substantially changing. the position of the shoe, direct vision of this portion of the shoe while in this position being obscured by the presence of the nippers. Accordingly a mirror is provided for enabling the operator to view the rear poi tion of the shoe while the shoe is in position i with its forepart over the nippers.

These and other novel features and details of the arrangement of the parts wiilappear more fully from thefollowingdetailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

ln'the drawings: n

Fig. 1 is a side view of apparatus located on the right-hand side of'the machine for facilitating the inspection of the interior of a shoe to discover tacks therein if there are any;

Fig. 2 is a side view of apparatus on the left-hand side of the machine for locating and1 removing a tacl: which has been discoverey Fig. 3 is a diagramof the electric circuits used in the apparatus Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view explaining it over the lamp the use of the apparatus-for inspecting th rear portion otthe shoe; and

Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the nippel and the operating means therefor.

In the drawings, a support or column 2 is shown which may be of any convenient height to accommodate the operator in either a standing or sitting position. On the column 2 is a hollow horizontal projection 4 extending toward the operators position which is at the end of the rojection facing the column. '@n the PIOjGCtlOIl l at the operators right is arranged. the apparatus and mechanism shown in Fig. 1 which comprises a low voltage electric lamp 6, current for which is supplied by a transformer 8 located on the top of the column as shown-in Fig. 2, the transformer being supplied with alternating current from the commercial lighting circuit by a lamp cord 10. The lamp 6 is mounted on a bracket 12 secured at 14 to the p'rojcc-- tion 4 and is shielded by an opaque, cylindrical sleeve 16 frictionally held on the lamp socket and cut away at its front portion so that the. lamp may emit light downwardly and forwardly. At the rear of the shield 16 is mounted a reflecting means 18 which, as shown, is in the form of atotally reflecting prism mounted in a clip 20 which is secured at '22 to the lamp bracket 12. A right angle prism is, ofcourse, more efficient as a light reflector than a plane mirror. When a shoe is .placed over the lamp and reflecting means, as shown in Fig. 1, the light from the lamp will illuminate the entire inner surface of the forepart of the sole and all portions of it may be seen by the operator with his eye located, as shown, inthe line of the reflected rays.

In order that the lampfi may be energized only when needed, a switch is arranged to close the secondary circuit of the transf rmer through the lamp as an incident to pro entation of the shoe in position to be inspected. The switch comprises a rotary element 24: mounted by a bolt 25 on-an insulating block 26 secured to the projection 4. The bolt 25 iselectrically connected to the secondary cir cuit of the transformer. The rotary element 24 has inserted in its periphery a block of insulating material 28 (Fig. 3), and a brush 30 in the form of a spring is arranged on the block 26 to engage the periphery of the rotating element 24:. When the element 24 is in such position that the insulating material 28 engages the brush 30 the lamp is turned oil and when the element 24 is turned so as to bring the brush in contact with other portions of the periphery of the element 24 the lam is turned on. The element 24 is normal y held by a weighted arm 32 in its. ofl position, and when it is desired to inspect the shoe, the shoe is brought into engagement with the arm 32 in its movement to position and reflecting means, and the element 2% is thereby rotated and the lamp memes turnedon. Uther portions of the shoe bottom than the forepart may be inspected by moving the shoe longitudinally while the operators eye remains in the same position. with respect to the reflectin means 18. Since the segment 28 occupies on ya small portion of the periphery of the rotating element 24, the operating arm 32 may be moved through a wide range of positions during manipulation of the shoe without afiecting the operation of the light. When, however, the shoe is removed and the arm 32 is allowed to drop into a substantially vertical position, the lamp is automatically turned ofl'. After a shoe has been inspected, if no tacks are found it is passed along and another shoein'spected; Of course in a very large majority of shoesno tacks will be found as they occur only accidentally. When, however, a tack is-discovered the shoe is transferred to the opposite side of the projection 4 where the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 islocated. This apparatus consists of a lamp similar to the lamp 6- and connected inparallel therewith in the secondary circuit of the transformer 8. The lamp 50 has its socket mounted on a bracket 52 which is pivoted to an car on the projection 4 by a screw 56 which is provided with a friction washer so that the bracket will remain in any position to which it is swung about the screw as a pivot. If desired the screw 56 may be so adjusted that the bracket 52 will turn freely upon it-and a spring 60 provided between the bracket and the projection 4 so as to hold the lamp normally in a forward position. The lamp will then be pushed back when it comes in contact with the upper of .a shoe at the throat,

- as indicated in Fig. 2. The lamp 50 is provided with a shield 58 similar to the shield.

' 16 to intercept rays oflight from the lamp except those-directed forwardly and downwardly. Back of the lamp'50 and shield 58 a reflecting means 62 is located. This prefer ably is in'the form of a totally reflecting prism, because of the superior eificiency of such reflecting means over an ordinary mirror. The prism 62 is mounted in a metal clip 63 whichv is secured by screws 64'to an arm 66 pivoted at 68 to an ear on the projection 4 so that it may be swung in a, substantially vertical plane extending transversely of the projection into and out of the operative position shown. Beneath the lamp is arranged a pair of cutting nippers the jaws 7 0 of which are formed and arranged for the purpose of thereto, in any suitable manner, a flexible to the interior of the projection 4 and has.

connected to its a cable 86 which is led rearwardly over a pulley 88 and thence downwardly to the floor where it is connected to the treadle so that depression of the treadle will effect a pull on the cable and, through.

the connections described, move the handle 73 toward the fixed handle to operate the i nipper jaws 7 0. Movement of the arm 82 of 'the bell crank lever is utilized to operate a switch for the lamp 50. The switch, as shown in Fig. 2, consists of two spring strips 90, 92

secured at their forward ends to aninsulatand the. points 96 brought'in contact, any.

excess movement of the strip 90 being permitted by the resiliency of the strips 90, 92. The

switch islarranged to be operated by a preliminary movement of the arm 82. by the treadle insufficient to close the nipper jaws, so that the lamp 50 will be lighted automatically as an incident to the operators placing his foot on the treadl preparatory to removing a tack that has been discovered 1n l/Vhen the operator, by the use of the m: spect-ion apparatus at the right-hand s de of a shoe,

90 is a contact piece 98 overhanging the the machine, discovers a tack in ashoe, he

places the shoe over the nippers 7 0 and, placing his foot on the treadle, turns on the lamp 50, thereby causing the nippers and the 1nterior ofvthe shoe to be illuminated; then, viewing the tack and the nippers by means of the prism 62, he manipulates the shoe relatively to the nippers to position the discovered tack between the jaws and then operates further the treadle to cause the nippers to sever the tack. The nipper jaws may be magnetized,- permanently or electrically, so that the severed portion of the tack w ll cling to thejaws until the'shoe is removed and may then be brushed olf, thus ensurmg that the severed tack point will not remain in the shoe.

At this stage of the operation the operator may wish again to inspect the rear portion of the shoe while the shoe is still pointed toward him and over the nippers and with out returning the shoe to the other side of the machine. Direct vision of the rear porshoe slightly to cause its rear interior pertion to be illuminated and directing his eye 7 toward a mirror 100 adjustably mounted at 1'02 to a bracket 104: secured by a screw 106 to the projection, the operator may secure an unobstructed view of the rear portion of the shee the prism 62 being swung on its pivot out of the way it that is desirable. This operation is shown diagrammatically in Fig. l. The mirror 100 and its bracket 104 are adjustably held so that the mirror may be placed in various positions and at any desired angle best suited for viewing the work in hand.

-The electrical connections of the apparatus, as shown, are represented diagrammatically in Fig. 3, in which it will be seen that the lamps are of the single contact type, one terminal, the socket, being grounded to the machine frame. The primary coil of the transformer, which is connected to the commercial lighting circuit,v is represented at 110, and" the secondary coil, one side of which is grounded, is represented at 112. W'ires lead from the ungrounded sideof the secondary coil 112 to the respective switches of the two lamps 6 and 50 and from the switches to the live terminals of the respective lamps. The secondary voltage being low, for example 6 volts, this arr rangement does not endanger the apparatus or the operator and is much simpler and more convenient than a two-wire circuit would be, though of course such a circuit could be employed if desired. The capacity of the transformer may be such that it will effectively light only one lamp at a time since, in the normal use of the apparatus, the automatic switch ensures that when one lamp is turned on the other will be turned Having thus described my invention, what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is:

. 1. In an apparatus of the class described,

- the combination of a lamp for illuminating h the interior of a shoe held with its toe toward the operator, a reflector so constructed and arran. 'ed that the lampis included between the visual rays incident to and these reflected from the reflector to form a visible image of the interior of the shoe, and a screen between the lamp and the reflector to cut ofi' direct radiation of light from the lamp to the reflector. 7 7

'3. In an apparatus for use in removing avoaeee tacks from theinteriors of shoes, the combination of a support, tack removing means secured in fixed relation to the support so that a shoe may be placed over said removing means and manipulated with respect thereto, and a lamp for illuminating theremoving means and the interior of the shoe.

4:. ln an apparatus for use in removing tacks from the interiors of shoes, the combination of a support, ta'ck cutting means on the support arranged so that a shoe may be placed over it and manipulated with respect thereto for the removal of tacks projecting into the interior of the shoe, and means for rendering the interiorof the shoe visible to the operator so that tacks in the shoe may be intelligently directed to the cutting means. 7

5. In an apparatus for use in removing tacks from the interiors of shoes, the combination of a support, apair of cutting nippers secured in fixed relation to the support so that a shoe may be placed over the nippers and manipulated with respect thereto, a lamp for illuminating the nippers and the interior of the shoe, and means for presenting to the operators vision an image ot the nlppers and the interior of the shoe.

6. Tnan apparatus for use in removing" tacks from the interiors of shoes, the combination of a support, tack cutting means on the support arranged so that a shoe may be placed over it and manipulated with respect thereto for the removal of tacks projecting into the interior of the shoe, manual means arranged for actuation by a lower limb of the operator for operating the cutting means while both his hands are occupied in manipulating the shoe, means for lighting the interior of the shoe, and means for rendering the interior of the shoe visible to the operator so that tacks in the shoe may be intelligently directed to the cutting means.

7. In an apparatus for use in re oving tacks from the interiors of shoes, the c mbination of a support,'a tack cutting means on the support arranged so that a shoe may be placed over it and manipulated with respect thereto for the removal of tacks projecting into the interior of the shoe, means for lighting theinterior of theshoe, means for rendering the interior of the shoe visible to the operator so that tacks in the shoe may be intelligently directed to the cutting means, manual means for operating the cutting means, and ineansop erated by a preliminary movement of said manual means for energizing the lighting 7 means.

8. In an apparatus. for use in removing .a shoe may be placed over the nippers and manipulated with respect thereto, a lamp for illuminatlng the nippers and the interior of the shoe,'a switch for controlling the lamp,

wi l

, cling to the jaws instead means for operating the nippers, means operating as an incident to movement of the nipper operating means for closing the switch, and means for forming an image of the illuminated nippers and adjacent portions of the shoe to enable the operator by viewing the image to manipulate the shoe to locate a projecting tack between the nipper aws.

9. In an apparatus for use in removing tacks from the interiors of shoes, the combinating means so that it may be brushed off afterthe shoe is removed.

10. In an apparatus for use in removing tacks from the interiors of shoes, the combination of a support, a pair of cutting nippers secured in fixed'relation to' the support so that a shoe may be placed over the'nippers and manipulated with respect thereto, and means for operating the nippers, the nippers being magnetized to cause detached portions of tacks to of falling into the shoe.

11. In an apparatus for use in removing tacks from the interiors of shoe, the combination of a support, tack cutting means on-the support arranged so that a shoe may be placed over it and manipulated with respect thereto for the removal of tacks projecting into the interior of the shoe, means for lighting the in terior of the shoe, and means for rendering the rear part of the interior of the shoe Visible to the operator While the shoe is held over the tack cutting means and direct vision of the rear part of the shoe is obscured.

12. In an apparatus for use in removing tacks from the interiors of shoes, a pair of cutting nippers for severing the tacks constructed and arranged to retain the severed portions of the tacks, and means'for rendering the interior of the shoe visible to the operator during operation of the cutting nippers.

13. In an apparatus for use in removing tacks from the interiors of shoes, cutting nippers comprising cutting edges for severing the tacks and means for retaining the severed portions of the tacks, and means for rendering the interior of the 'shoe visible to the operator during operation of the cutting nippers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

- GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX. 

